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Neither a 10-year-old accused murderer or the six-year-old boy he allegedly beat to death received the services they needed leading up to the grisly crime, Saskatchewan's children's advocate says.

In a report released Wednesday, Bob Pringle said the death of Lee Bonneau, 6, reportedly at the hands of a 10-year-old boy on the Kahkewistahaw First Nation last year, could have been avoided had child services acted sooner and heeded the many warnings by police and school officials,

The 10-year-old, referred to as "Derek," allegedly killed Lee with a "weapon of opportunity" outside a recreation centre on Aug. 21, 2013. Lee's foster mother was inside playing bingo at the time.

Both boys had a history with social services, Pringle's report notes, but there were "significant gaps" in the care provided to them and their families.

Derek exhibited early warning signs of behavioural problems as young as six, but was not diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome until he was nine. Even then, he had little access to mental-health care on the reserve.

The RCMP and Derek's school both repeatedly reported concerns to the Yorkton Tribal Council Child and Family Services (YTCCFS) about Derek's behaviour, but were "not adequately followed up."

In May 2011, when Derek was eight, Mounties say he and another boy broke into a home where a pregnant dog and its unborn pups were found slain.

The YTCCFS didn't follow up with Derek's parents for two months. They didn't talk to Derek at all.

RCMP later reported concerns about Derek's "inappropriate actions toward another child" in early 2013, but there is no evidence the YTCCFS "took any action."

Pringle outlined a number of recommendations for the Ministry of Social Services and the YTCCFS, including improving mental health services and better evaluating staff competence.

"This incident was a very serious one, and one I do not want to see repeated," said Pringle.

Derek is too young to be charged with Lee's death and remains in the care of the YTCCFS.